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The Willows Whole School Approach to Intervention

The Willows State School provides an effective and supportive curriculum for all students. Students are provided with explicit and scaffolded learning experiences required for them to achieve success both within and out of the classroom. The school’s core business then focuses on maximising learning for every student.

The universal approach to prevention of learning difficulties involves analysis of data and collaborative decision making. Targeted and intensive intervention is provided as required for our more able students and our students with learning difficulties. Targeted and intensive intervention involves analysis of data and collaborative decision making by our Learning Support Teachers, Head of Curriculum and the Leadership Team.

Three levels of support are provided within the school:

Universal teaching

Targeted teaching

Intensive collaborative teaching

The Support Teachers: Literacy and Numeracy (ST:LaN) work within the school to support students in all three levels. They assist teachers in identifying students who are experiencing some level of difficulty in learning and then work collaboratively with the teachers and teacher aides to provide learning experiences tailored to the needs of those students. This may be targeted group work or individual instruction for a specific period of time.

Identification of ‘at risk’ students:

Students having difficulties in Literacy and Numeracy are provided with targeted support aimed at improving their learning outcomes within the class. However, some students may not show improvement in learning.

Teachers will discuss their concerns with the caregivers and a Special Needs Referral will be completed. The referrals are presented to the Special Needs Committee which then decides upon a course of action to improve the students’ learning outcome.

At all times, the goal of targeted and intensive learning support is to maximise the learning outcomes of ALL students at The Willows State School.

Guidance and counselling service

Education Queensland provides a Guidance and Counselling service to students. The Guidance Officer at The Willows State School is Verity Pennisi. Verity is available at school from Monday to Thursday and is located in L Pod.

Guidance officers work closely with students and their families, teachers, non-teaching professionals and in some instances departmental agencies and authorities to provide a wide range of support to students. The Guidance Officer may:

work directly with students and teachers, support personnel, family and other specialists or professionals

provide guidance and counselling services to students and their families